BishopAccountability.org
 
  Va. Priest Admits to Misconduct

Richmond Times-Dispatch [Harrisonburg VA]
December 13, 2004

HARRISONBURG - Father Jim Gallagher resigned as pastor of Harrisonburg's Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church after admitting "sexual misconduct with an adult woman," the Catholic Diocese of Richmond said yesterday.

The Most Rev. Francis X. DiLorenzo, bishop of the diocese, told parishioners the news before celebrating Mass. The diocese has temporarily suspended Gallagher pending an investigation, the bishop said.

Although Gallagher, 52, has resigned as pastor of the church, he has not left the priesthood, DiLorenzo said.

Gallagher arrived at Blessed Sacrament in June 2003 after serving for seven years at a church in Petersburg. He has been a priest for 17 years.

In his statement to parishioners yesterday, DiLorenzo said the diocese had learned that Gallagher "has admitted sexual misconduct with an adult woman. In the interest of privacy, the diocese will not release the identity of the person involved."

The bishop stressed that the "accusation in no way involved minors or children." The diocese said it would take "further appropriate action to include more in-depth investigation and evaluation" of the matter.

DiLorenzo added that if "anyone else in the community feels the need to come forward," they should contact the diocese.

Gallagher did not immediately return phone messages left at his home and the church last night.

Father Mark Lane, the diocese's vicar for clergy, would not elaborate on the nature of the priest's relationship with the woman, nor say what specific action the diocese might take.

The Rev. John Grace, campus minister at James Madison University, will serve as administrator for Blessed Sacrament until June, when the diocese will install a new priest.

The church serves about 1,500 households and is the only Catholic church in the city.

 
 

Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.